The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-19
He Tells of the Part He Took in the
Campaign OF 1916.

Campaign OF 1875.
President Garrett next introduced Hon.
Randall i. Gibson as man whom the DEM
ocrats had learned to love and admire. Mr..
Gibson was received with applause. He
made a lengthy and ella borate address, but
owing to the number of speakers BRIEF
synopsis onld' of his remarks is given. Mr..
Gibson opened by thankInif the Democrats
for the cordial invitation that made him their
guest. He then referred TO his previous
visits to Cuachita,. be.inning with his
hrs, visit with Louis A: Witt, to whose
son spoke Of his sl1bseqnent visits. and 10
the tinle when ne came to urge the election
of Cleveland and Hendricks. He then spoke
at some length on the yafloHs epochs througi
The speaker dweIt on the question Of Sta,e
rights and defended the South in the posi-
ton it had bo noby nlalnt4ined in that par
ticul a.. Mr.. Gibson spoke On. the second
epoch, the period OF reconstruction, the en-
forcemcnt of the amendments. This in the
South meant destruction instead of recon-
struction. 1t meant q carnival Of carpet
baggers, crime and "corrupt.or, until the
people rose in their might and redeemed the
Gen. Gibaon said, however that it required
mole than an uprising Of the people to give
peace 10 the State. He recalled how the KEEL
;ogg government was 0verthEown and how
by a simple order from Washington it was
election of Gen. Nichoilsin 1876. He himself
had been elected to Congress two years prior
He said that he realized then the vast battle
Of craftsmanship that was berg fought in
the Senate, and in tb!s CONNECTION Mr.. Glib
and others for the liberties of the people of
the South He said that at this time there
was contest In Louisiana between the
whites and the blacks. Gen. Nichols repre-
scented the whites and Packard the blacks.
n {,ihap,, H.. oi,t
resolution, adopted by the Kellogg Legisla-
sure on Jan. l, 1877, appealing to the
United States government for assistance and
for, support; Gen. Gibson asked if Grant
the result. Both Packard and Gen. Nichols
We're to be inaHgurated on Jan. 8. On Jan.
Z Gen. Grant sent u dispatch to Kellogg,
stating that he would have to decline the re-
quest OF Kellogg for
TROOPS TO INACCURATE PACKARD.
Mr. Gibson here narrated what had occurred
in Washington at that time. Gen. Gibson
next told of an interview he had with Gen.
Grant, giving everything that TRANSFERRED at
that interview in detail. together with Gen.
Grants reference to cx-President Johnson.
During that interview Gen. Grant referred
threats, thugs, etc. This Mr.. Gibson de-
MED, and told Gen. Grant that the league
was commanded by Gen. Fred. N. Ogden,
q man who had been raised by one of Gen.
Grants best friends, Mr.: Morton. This was
the first time that Gen. Grant knew the real
character Of the White League.
On the day following the interview Gen.
Gibson again called on Gen. Grant and Gen.
Grant told him that if the people did not
create any disturbance that he Grant would
by his relations in Louisiana. From that day
Grant never raised his hand against Lousi-
ana. Gen. Gibson said that he did not claim
az AZ the the, credit for the RECOGNITION Of the
went on to tell how he had sent word to
Nichols to send Speaker Bush to Washing
ton. Col. Bush could not come. Gen. Cab
son next requested that Judge White be sent,
and in reply was informed that it was impos-
sible, but that Major L. A. Burke had already
started.
Gen. Gibson said that Major Burke was &C
ceptsble and he rendered coed service
=, me speaker then went on to state that while
the leaders had all done their duty, if it had
not been Tor the action OF the people of
LOUISIANA, who stood up SO nobly for their
rights, no such order as emanated from
Grant would ever have been issued. Gen.
Gibson here paid tribute to the courage of
the people OF Louisiana, and added that
when the NICHOLS government was installed
peace relgned throughout the land
Gen. Gibson said that he regarded all the
contention in regard to Africanizing the
STATE, as futile. He held that no matter who
was elected that no nan would have the har-
d!hood to attempt to disrupt our school or
agricultural system. 1t could not be done.
The man who. attempted it would be swept
away Ike leaf on running stream.
Gen. Gibson then spoke on the improved
educational institutions in. the State He
spoke on the leyees at great length, and held
that when he took his seat the ambition of
his life, was to see the river harre ssed up.
de told how the Federal government had
never appropriated cent for levecs up to
,he time he took his seat. Then he told at
length how the River Commission was ere
ated; and described IFS system of working,
and how the money was expended by the en-
glneers.
Gen. Gibson Informed the audience that he
had never sought to Illuminate any man or to
build up any man. He did not support Gen.
Ogden, but be did support Jonas as collector
OF tue port. He had subsequently visited
New Orleans, when sick, to tell Ogden that
while he could not support him for collector
he he world support him for any other office.
acted as he thought for the best interests of
the party. when he supported Jonas.
Gen. Gibson then went on to tell how he
hsd supported Capt. Dick Sinnott, Colvin
Moore, Henry Kernochan, Mr.. Flower and